TIPS FOR EFFICIENT DRIVING

  • Regularly tuning up any internal combustion engine, may it be gasoline or diesel is the best way to keep it in top fuel efficient condition;

  • Most engines should be started and kept running at the normal idling speed. Running it for any time longer than this to "warm it up" is a totally unnecessary procedure;

  • The most fuel efficient speed is between 75 to 90 KPH. Driving at speeds more or less than this bracket will result in less kilometers traveled for the same amount of fuel burned;

Follow a regular preventive maintenance program to prevent major breakdowns. A poorly maintained car can use up to 25% more fuel.

  • Plan your trips to maximize your load factor;

Plan all trips. Plan the timing and the route of your trips such that you will avoid being caught in the “thick” of traffic. Know your regular route and always have an alternate route in mind.

  • Plan the timing and the route of your trips such that you will avoid being caught in the "thick" of traffic;

  • Know your regular routes and always have an alternate route in mind. Learn to identify the tell tale signs to heavy traffic and when to resort to using these alternate routes;

Keep speed down and drive at steady speeds. Tests conducted with popular cars have indicated a 25% improvement in fuel economy when speeds are reduced from 120 to 80 kmph.

Anticipate stops. Tests prove that a vehicle driven at 60 kmph can travel a distance of 650 meters by a gradual halt without additional fuel consumption.

  • A fuel efficiency conscious driver is one who knows exactly WHEN to shift to a higher gear without placing to much stress on his engine;

  • Vehicles tuned up to operate at or close to sea level are less fuel efficient when they get to a higher elevation and vice versa due to the difference in density altitude;

  • Filling your fuel tank early in the morning when it is cool will result in your being able to load about 3% to 6% more fuel as against filling the same tank during noontime when the ambient temperature is higher;

Avoid fuel spillage. Don’t overfill the tank. Keep the fuel cap tightened to prevent fuel loss due to evaporation or spillage.

Avoid “jack-rabbit” starts. Gradual acceleration in driving can save as much as one kilometer per liter compared to rapid acceleration.

Minimize vehicle loads. Transporting unnecessary weight in your car will cause it to add 10% to fuel consumption.

  • The following are fuel inefficient driving practices:

    • "Jack rabbit" starts;

    • Weaving in and out of traffic;

    • Erratic speed control;

    • Failure of use the coasting ability of a vehicle before coming to a complete stop;

    • Drivers of vehicles with diesel engines tend to pump their accelerator in an attempt to get more speed out of their vehicle;

    • Because diesel is the cheapest motor fuel, many drivers of diesel powered vehicles have the notion that keeping their engine running is cheaper than turning their engine off and restarting it later on.

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